System, apparatus and method for the wireless monitoring of medical test data

ABSTRACT

A system, apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving medical test data is provided having memory that stores computer-executable instructions; processor, communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions; and having: a transmission means operatively associated with a device, a receiver adapted and configured to receive data from the transmission means; a central database adapted and configured to compile the data; wherein the data is transformed into an output comprised of an aggregate of medical test data from at least one medical test. The computer implemented method for transmitting and receiving medical test data comprises the steps of transmitting means operatively associated with a device, receiving data from the transmission means; compiling the data into a central database; and transforming the data from the database into an output comprised of an aggregate of medical test data from at least one medical tests.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a United States divisional application claimingpriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/729,310, filed Jun. 3,2015, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/006,978 filed on Jun.3, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/169,875 filedJun. 2, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The field of the invention and its embodiments relate to a system,method and apparatus to be used for various types of medical tests inwhich an aggregate of test results is to be compiled, automaticallytransmitted, and monitored. In particular, the apparatus enableswireless transmission, storage, monitoring, notifications, and the liketo keep individual users and third parties apprised of at least onemedical test result.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As of the date of invention, it is estimated that diabetes care costs inexcess of $218 billion in the U.S. The $218 billion amounts to about 10percent of all U.S. health care spending by government and the public,about $2.1 trillion in 2006, and nearly half the $448.5 billion cost ofheart disease and stroke. Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes as it iscommonly known, includes several different metabolic disorders thatresult in high concentrations of glucose, a sugar, in the blood. It iscurrently estimated that diabetes care costs in excess of $240 billionin the U.S. every year alone. This $240 billion figure amounts to about10% of all U.S. health care spending.

In order to help treat the diabetes, a person may be prescribed dietchanges, medications, insulin. However, a person must still be cognizantof their blood glucose levels to prevent a drop or spike in bloodglucose levels which may lead to various ailments including, in severecases, coma and death. Thus, diabetic persons should monitor their bloodglucose levels with the aid of a glucose meter. Optimal measurementinvolves a patient measuring and recording their blood glucose levelsover a period of time and in relation to certain events (i.e. eating andexercise). By understanding what effects food and exercise have on theirblood glucose levels, appropriate lifestyle shifts can be made.

However, current blood glucose meters have several drawbacks. Forexample, blood glucose meters often lack the ability to communicate withanother remote location such as a doctor's office. Thus, in order to adoctor to be kept apprised of a diabetic's situation, they have toassume the diabetic patient is testing themselves regularly and beingtruthful in their test results.

Thus, there is a need for a blood glucose meter that can automaticallysend test results to a remote location for instant analysis. Thisallows, for example, an alert or notification to be generated and sentto family members if a person's blood glucose level is such that it maysignify that are in or about to be in danger of becoming hypoglycemic orhyperglycemic. The present invention meets and exceeds these objectives.

Examples of related art are described below:

U.S. Patent Publication No. 20100240979 discloses a system and methodfor transmitting blood glucose level information related to time anddate from a user via a glucometer using the Global System for MobileCommunications (hereinafter GSM) modem, an antenna, meter interface, andmicroprocessor. U.S. Pat. No. 8,372,351 discloses a glucose monitoringwith wireless communication and pairing capabilities via Bluetooth. U.S.Patent Publication No. 20130112557 discloses a glucose monitor with atemperature sensor to mitigate the effects of heat on a blood sample.U.S. Patent No. 20100228111 teaches a blood glucose measuring module anda wireless communication module which are physically-separate unitselectrically connected in order to allow for an exchange of electricalsignals. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20080269673 teaches a cellularenable medical monitoring and infusion system paired with an infusionpump. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050038680 teaches a cellular enabledmedical infusion device for inputting medical data via a cellularnetwork. U.S. Pat. No. 8,965,333 teaches a remote monitoring system andmethod utilizing wireless network of a plurality of contiguous decodeddata packages. U.S. Patent Application 2013/0116526 pertains to apatient monitoring network pertaining to blood glucose and other analytemeasurements includes wireless blood glucose or other analyte measuringdevices and a networked computer or server. Each monitoring device isassociated with a patient and is configured to measure the glucose levelor other analyte from a given blood sample via inserted test strips,transmit the measurements to the networked computer, and displayreceived messages. The messages may relate to the current or pastmeasurements, or may include an alert prompting the user of themonitoring device to order more supplies, such as test strips. Themeasurements received by the networked computer may be stored in arecord of a database, which may be accessed by a remote computer. Theremote computer may also access a script editor to edit certain scriptswhich produce certain messages sent to the monitoring device.

International Patent Publication No. WO2012066278A1 teaches aserver-side initiated communication unrelated to glucose monitoring.International Patent Publication No. WO2012126800A1 teaches calculatinga dose of insulin based on information being transmitted from a meterthe focus of the patent is on the dosing of insulin and discussesgetting data via wireless communication. Chinese Patent No. CN204116356Usimply discloses a SIM Card based Glucose meter and pertains to a SIMcard based medical meter. The device includes a glucose meter, SIMcards, and test strips. The SIM card contains five modules, namelycommunications (CPU), working memory (RAM), program memory (FLASH ROM),EEPROM data memory and serial communication unit with the CPU. The SIMcard is inserted into the meter installed SIM card slot, the test stripsinto the blood glucose meter test strips slot. The Sim card is read andstored in the EEPROM module. The blood glucose meter reads the teststrip in contact with the test sample, the meter reads the data andstores it in the SIM card. Chinese Patent No. CN102835960 entitled“Portable intelligent glucometer supporting measured data to be realtimely sent through mobile short messages” only discloses short messageservice (SMS) via GSM. Chinese Patent No. CN103472010A teaches adiabetes detection device using a user's blood and urine. Chinese PatentNo. CN103330567A discloses a GPRS glucometer with identificationfunction but focuses on RFID. Various devices are known in the art.However, their structure and means of operation are substantiallydifferent from the present invention. Accordingly, there is a need for adevice to assist the diabetic community transmit and receive bloodglucose readings in an efficient and most reliable manner. At least oneembodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and willbe described in more detail herein.

Medical Record/Medical Device Integration

Having identified the problem/opportunity within this $218 billionmarket, we can now establish the necessity for a glucose meter that canshare data and integrate with electronic medical records with extremereliability. The system is designed with triple redundancy and extremereliability. Every Glucose reading is life and death to a diabeticpatient. Accordingly, health care and service providers need to benotified upon a moment's notice. Known in the art are glucometers whichread blood glucose sample and require an additional step for the bloodglucose result to be transmitted to a diabetic patient's primary carephysician. The present system eliminates this additional step and allowsfor a blood glucose reading to automatically and instantaneouslydelivered to a plurality of designated individuals at a desiredfrequency and through multiple communication methods, each of which arebuilt into the device and supporting software systems. The systemsupports 3 communication methods SMS, GPRS and USSD as explained below.

The system and device transmits, receives and delivers blood glucosereadings and messages through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data(hereinafter USSD), a protocol according to the GSM standard. [The GSMwas developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute(ETSI) to describe protocols for digital cellular networks used bymobile phones to communicate with a service provider's computers.] USSDis used for wireless application protocol browsing, prepaid callbackservice, mobile-money services, location-based content services,menu-based information services, and as part of configuring a phone on anetwork. USSD messages are up to 182 alphanumeric characters in length.USSD messages create a real-time connection and remains open, allowing atwo-way exchange of a sequence of data.

The system and device transmits, receives and delivers blood glucosereadings and messages through Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR).GPSR, is an efficient routing protocol for mobile, wireless networks.GPSR is a geo routing method wherein data packages are not sent to aspecial receiver but to network coordinates according to a greedyalgorithm (i.e. a network coordinate that is local, and the optimallycloser to the destination). Data packages are relayed to a node that'sgeographically closest to the coordinates.

The system and device transmits, receives and delivers blood glucosereadings and messages through Short Message Service (hereinafter SMS).SMS is a text messaging service component of phone, Web, or mobilecommunication systems. It uses standardized communications protocols toallow fixed line or mobile phone devices to exchange short textmessages.

The system and device utilizes the ACCU-CHEK Inform II system whichoffers healthcare professionals the first truly wireless hospital bloodglucose device. The system utilizes technology to deliver improvedaccuracy and enables automatic real-time wireless transfer of patientdata between hospital medical staff and the laboratory. The system anddevice utilizes a mobile approach to diabetes education and support. Thesystem enables a patients profile to be personalized in order to helppeople with type 2 diabetes take better control of their condition. Thesoftware based program, entitled Care2Life focuses on education andadherence to the participant's treatment protocol. It also allowsparticipants to build an electronic record of blood glucose readings,blood pressure, weight and exercise that they can view on-line and sharewith their providers.

Current attempts, devices, systems and methods known in the art aredeficient. Traditionally and unbelievably, most methods, devices andsoftware platforms capture data from their diabetic patients manually.The present invention, referred to as The Smart Glucose Meter (or SGM)can easily be integrated in a meaningful way with electronic medicalrecord (hereinafter EMR) companies. The Smart Glucose Meter is a glucosemeter that not only can share data but does so easily, seamlessly andtechnologically advanced, automatically integrating with electronicmedical records.

There are more than two dozen studies that depict results requiringcapture of diabetes data to manage this disease. Yet to date, thereexist but one device owned by Telcare, Inc. that has developed anautomatic method to capture this data. However, the Telcare device doesnot share data with other Electronic Medical Record platforms orsystems. The present system and device is an Open Application interfaceand data can be pushed and pulled from a variety of electronic medicalrecord software's, programs, and systems.

Various other systems and methods are known in the art as describedabove. However, their structure and means of operation are substantiallydifferent from the present disclosure. The other inventions fail tosolve all the problems taught by the present disclosure. At least oneembodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and willbe described in more detail herein.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A system and method for transmitting and receiving medical test data isprovided comprising memory that stores computer-executable instructions;processor, communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitatesexecution of the computer-executable instructions; and comprising: atransmission means operatively associated with a device, a receiveradapted and configured to receive data from said transmission means; acentral database adapted and configured to compile said data; whereinsaid data is transformed into an output comprised of an aggregate ofmedical test data from at least one medical test. The computerimplemented method for transmitting and receiving medical test datacomprises the steps of transmitting means operatively associated with adevice, receiving data from said transmission means; compiling said datainto a central database; and transforming said data from the databaseinto an output comprised of an aggregate of medical test data from atleast one medical tests.

The device is a glucometer and the medical test is a blood glucosemeasurement. The transmission means includes a direct connection,wireless transmission, or combinations thereof. The transmission meansincludes a configuration to encrypt said medical test data. The receiveris adapted and configured to receive encrypted transmissions from saidtransmission means and to unencrypt said data. The transmission meansincludes a transmission protocol of at least one of a Greedy PerimeterStateless Routing (GPSR) routing protocol, short text messages (SMS) andUnstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). The receiver is adaptedand configured to communicate with the device and said communicationincludes a signal in which receipt of transmitted data is confirmed. Thedatabase compilation of test data is transmitted to and received from atleast one of a patient, healthcare provider, insurance/medical benefitsprovider, and combinations thereof. The database is adapted andconfigured to provide an actuated transmission when particular medicaltest thresholds are transmitted. The actuated transmission includes awarning to a patient, healthcare provider, insurance/medical benefitsprovider, or combinations thereof relating to transmission of data at athreshold level. The threshold level is a medical test result above orbelow a threshold limit.

Generally, the present invention and its embodiments provide for animproved medical testing device. In the main context of the application,it is contemplated that such a medical testing device will embody ablood glucose meter. However, any number and type of medical tests maybe performed using the same principles and apparatus as describedherein.

The apparatus has a wireless transceiver that enables wireless transportof data associated with the medical test, in this case, a blood glucosemeasurement. This enables the blood glucose measurement to be sent to aremote location such as a server, family member, doctor, or the like ora combination thereof. In some instances, it is sent to a doctor, whocan then automatically generate an alert to family members or sendproper personnel or other appropriate response in response to a high orlow medical test result for that person. In other instances, such analert or notification is automatically generated and sent out inresponse to an abnormal result.

In one embodiment there is an apparatus for collecting and transmittingmedical test data, the apparatus having an external housing having apower source, processor, and a memory contained therein with the memorybeing operably coupled to the processor; a display for displayinginformation associated with at least one medical test; a wirelesstransceiver configured to send collected medical test data to a remotelocation; at least one receptacle configured to receive a medicaltesting apparatus, wherein an analytical tool analyzes the medicaltesting apparatus to generate a medical test result; a slidable membercoupled to the at least one receptacle, wherein sliding of the slidablemember causes the medical testing apparatus to be removed from the atleast one receptacle; and a power source for powering of the apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention that the wireless communicationautomatically initiates and transmits upon completion of a medical test.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the glucometer haswireless communication that automatically initiates and transmits uponcompletion of a blood glucose test.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the medical test datais wirelessly and automatically uploaded to the device.

It is an object of the present invention wherein a plurality of saidmedical test data is assigned a unique data profile corresponding to aplurality of users, said unique data profile configurable to include atleast one of individuals, medical service providers and professionalsand medical insurance providers.

It is an object of the present invention wherein medical test data istransformed into a plurality messages.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the plurality ofmessages are transmitted as real time alerts corresponding to themedical test data of a plurality of users.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the plurality ofmessages comprises at least one of short text message (SMS), GPRS GreedyPerimeter Stateless Routing, and voice channels.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the frequency andmethod of transmission is configurable and adjustable.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the plurality ofmessages comprise an electronic medical record of a user.

It is an object of the present invention wherein data is transmitted andreceived from a plurality of electronic medical record platforms andsystems.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the data is transformedand stored on a subscriber identification module, said subscriberidentification module being physical or virtual.

It is an object of the present invention wherein at least one of theplurality of messages is deemed redundant for verification andsynchronization of the plurality of messages with said central database.

It is an object of the present invention wherein the medical test datais transformed into a plurality of languages.

It is an object of the present invention that the system comprises anadvertising module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a display box of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a representative example of dailyblood glucose readings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a logbook where the date and timeperiod of a recorded blood glucose reading is displayed.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a user's profile of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of the Data Recipients screen of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the Alerts screen of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of the Registration screen of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a back view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a left side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the variousfigures are identified with the same reference numerals.

Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the presentinvention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of thepresent invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact,those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading thepresent specification and viewing the present drawings that variousmodifications and variations can be made thereto.

The system, methods and device of the present invention utilize asoftware based system and device which contain the following screens anddisplays and are meant to be illustrative and representative. FIG. 1 isa perspective view of a display box of the present invention displayinga user may set the date range and so that medical test data will appear.A user may set the time zone where the user is located or the device mayautomatically recognize the time zone where the user and device islocated. The user may select a time range as well as set these ranges toa default setting. The system and device allows for the storing ofmultiple users. Thus a user of the device may select what user's recordsor data they want to view. The device may store up to 35 users orpatients. Each user or patient is assigned an identification number suchas P1 or P35. In another embodiment of the invention, the user mayselect for other fields to be displayed.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative example of daily blood glucose readings of thepresent invention. The above graph shows tracks the blood glucosereadings or scores which are recorded over a specified range of datesand times. For example on Feb. 4, 2015 at 7:32 pm the blood glucosescore was slightly above 100 Milligrams per Deciliter (mg/dL) while onFeb. 8, 2015 at 6:58 p.m. the user's blood glucose score was slightlyover 300 mg/dL. In the pie charts below, the average reading is shown asbeing within the target range of a normal blood glucose level before ameal (pre-meal) and whether the reading was within the target range of anormal blood glucose reading after a meal (post meal). A user may set arange of where they desire their score to be and the pie chart candetermine if a user's blood glucose readings are within that desiredrange. In another embodiment, the graphs may be pie charts, bar graphsor color graphs. The graphs may only display information from aparticular day, time period or blood glucose reading. Time may berecorded in hour, minutes and seconds. In another embodiment, the usermay select the type of graph they desire and the desired medical testdata they want displayed. A user may select the time format and dateformat of his choosing. Additional data to be recorded includetemperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius,

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a logbook where the date and timeperiod of a recorded blood glucose reading is displayed. A user'saverage blood glucose readings (as recorded from a test strip) aredisplayed in chart formation showing the date, time, blood glucosereading, and whether the reading was before or after a meal. The logbook may be printed or emailed to a designated individual. In anotherembodiment the log book may be in different display forms. In anotherembodiment a user may select other data to be displayed. In anotherembodiment the data or portions of the data can be extracted and sent toa designated individual such as a medical service provider. A user'saverage blood glucose readings are saved in the device for a specifiedperiod of time and are further stored in the systems software as well asin the cloud storage unit of each user and health care provider of each.

The system, device and corresponding software allow a user to create aprofile. FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a user's profile of thepresent invention. In addition to a user entering his personal andmedical information, a user is able to enter his insurance information,diabetes type, year of diagnosis and treating doctor. In anotherembodiment a user may enter all physicians who are treating eachspecified user.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of the Data Recipients screen of thepresent invention. The user of the system or device may choose theirintended recipient of medical test data and whether the recipientreceived the data via an email or text, the frequency of those messages,the date and time the message or transmission is to be sent, and whetherthe recipient is a healthcare professional. A user may display a listingof all emailed reports sent to a particular recipient. The system isable to send messages and data from multiple devices of multiple usersto multiple recipients.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the Alerts screen of the presentinvention. The system may send alerts relating to blood glucose readingsand other medical test data as desired. An alert message may be sent toa designated person and email address as stored in the device andsystem. The alert may be sent via email or as an SMS message. The usermay designate whether the blood glucose reading or score falls into oneof the following categories of warnings: Warning Low, Warning High,Emergency Low, Emergency High so as to indicate to the recipient whetherthe user's blood glucose reading is a level to initiate action ordiagnosis by a medical or health care provider such as a nurse ortreating physician. The user may designate the frequency of the alertand designate the number of times the message is to be sent or expectedto be sent in a given day or time period. A threshold limit may bedesignated such that an alert message is sent to the designatedrecipient if under this threshold amount. The alert can be sent for oneor more patients or users and each patient or user can designate as manyrecipients as they choose as well as the frequency of alter messages tobe sent.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of the Registration screen of the presentinvention. Upon using the device and corresponding system, a userregisters their device with the corresponding systems software. Thisincludes the user's personal and medical information as well as theircorresponding mobile and stationary devices. A user's mobile device'sInternational Mobile Station Equipment Identity is recorded a uniqueidentification number for GSM mobile phones. Multiple devices per usercan be registered which enables all of a specified user's devices tocommunicate wireless with one another. Devices can be updated andremoved as necessary.

A Summary is below on the use of the apparatus and method of the presentinvention and how each of patients, healthcare providers, andinsurance/financially interested parties can use and utilize the presentinvention. The system automatically sends glucose readings via textmessage, email or fax to family members, caregivers, physicians or otherdesignees. For examples, if you require your blood glucose results to bereleased and transmitted two times a day to your doctor but three timesa day to your nurse practitioner then the system allows for that. Thesystem allows for multiple periods of sending to multiple designatedusers. The frequency of transmitting results can be adjusted dependingon the user, healthcare provider and patient's needs. All data is storedon a website that can be accessed by the patient and whomever patientdesignates as an authorized user.

Data is collected and may be used for Medicare Part B Audits. The systemof the present invention is compatible and compliant with “HL7,” orHealth Level 7, a format for exchanging patient health information tocreate patient registries. Health Level-7 or HL7 refers to a set ofinternational standards for transfer of clinical and administrative databetween software applications used by various healthcare providers. Datais collected and may be integrated into various online patient portalsor other electronic medical record systems. Data can be pulled from thepresent inventions system and device and transmitted or pushed by thesystem to multiple Medical Data Platforms via an open applicationinterface (API).

The system of the present invention provides Greater control andunderstanding of a patient's diabetes. The system of the presentinvention automatically maintains logbooks and graphical/trend reports.The system of the present invention provides real time results whichleads to better glycemic control. The system of the present inventionenables automated diabetic supply reorder reminders. The system of thepresent invention automatically creates electronic patient data requiredto comply with Medicaid/Medicare Part B Utilization Guidelines andjustifies and documents reason for frequent prescribed diabetes testing.For healthcare providers, the system of the present invention, insurescompliance and accuracy with patient glucose readings, improves carecoordination and collaboration with no additional costs, allows forautomatic and electronic record keeping eases case management; andprovides detailed usage records for regulatory and reimbursementrequirements. For insurers, the system of the present invention,potentially saves billions of dollars in healthcare costs stemming fromimproved patient care and fraud prevention, complements existingdiabetes management programs, and provides efficient data management.Through the system's communication network, blood glucose readings arerecorded in a central database which in turn communicates back to thedevice/apparatus of the invention with confirmation of receipt of thereadings.

The device or apparatus of the invention includes a glucometer withunique added functionality to transmit the glucose readings. The devicemay use various transmission protocol means such as USSD messagetransmission technology, SMS technology or GPRS technology. Throughthese transmission protocols, messages and data are transmitted to acentral database where the messages and data are stored. These multipleways of communication ensure that no message or data record to and fromthe device is lost. Each system of communication acts as a backup forthe other and is programmed to work if one system fails. Once readingsand results are stored, a text message (via SMS) can be sent topre-defined recipients and a corresponding web site application candisplay the information, run reports, issue alerts, create graphs andmore.

This disclosure describes the communication functionality and the recordlayout to transmit the glucose reading information. The system anddevice automatically uploads your glucose readings. Such readings may bedirected to a plurality of individuals as programmed by the user. Thedevice of the present invention, has the functionality of an accurateglucose reading device (including, but not limited to a configuration bywhich calibration for precision and accuracy is established andmaintained), processes the reading correctly within the device, andprepares a record for transmission according to the impetus of theinvention as described herein. The device's capabilities are critical tosuccessful operation of device transmission, and are described indetails in the “device architecture and specifications” document and asdescribed in U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62/169,875 filedJun. 2, 2015.

If there is no network coverage in the area, the device is constructedand configured to store the information within the device, and transmitthe information the next time a reading is taken. In one embodiment, thedevice stores up to 100 unsent readings and be able to send them atlater time. The device captures the local date and time from a globalnetwork, using a GSM module, and submits the date and time as part ofthe record layout. The device keeps the last reading successfully sent,and sends it again on the next transmission. This redundancy is toensure no readings are missed. A central database checks and ensuresthat redundant records are not inserted into the database, by comparingnew records to existing records already stored.

The speed of the transmission depends on the local network in eachlocation where the readings are taken. Each device has a GSM moduleincorporated therein. The device of the present invention includes asubscriber identity module or subscriber identification module (SIM)card. A SIM card is an integrated circuit that is intended to securelystore the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and therelated key used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobiletelephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers). The SIM card ofthe device, may be a physical SIM card or virtual SIM (a mobile phonenumber provided by a mobile network operator that does not require aphysical SIM card to connect phone calls to a user's mobile phone) andis attached to a GSM module and communicates with the local networks.Once readings are sent from the device to the GSM module, the reading,or readings are transmitted to the network using the SIM card. Thetransmission is done by formatting a message with various lengths of 1and up to 80 characters. The 80 characters limitation is to ensure thatevery network in the world can support the transmission. Each messagemust end with a special character that indicates end of transmission.Each record can carry up to four readings. Up to three of the readingsare new and the fourth one is always a redundant reading of the lastsuccessful reading. See record layout below for further illustration. Inanother embodiment each record may contain additional records. However,to ensure redundancy, one of the records will be always be redundantwhile the remaining are new. In another embodiment, the device has a SIMcard with 3 IMSIs.

Each device is constructed and configured with an indication pointer.The indication pointer will always point to the memory address of thelast reading that was already sent successfully with a positiveconfirmation of receipt from the central database. In normal operationafter a glucose measurement is recorded, both the new reading and thelast reading will be sent immediately after the measurement.Subsequently, the pointer will be updated and point to the new memoryaddress. In this case, two readings are sent via one message. The lastreading is for a redundant verification and synchronization and shouldnot be inserted into the central database. Redundant messages areautomatically sent by the system.

If the transmissions failed for any reason, the unsent reading(s) arekept within the device and are configured to store a plurality of unsentreadings. In one embodiment, the device is configured to keep up to 100unsent readings. Once the connectivity is restored and upon a newmeasurement or reading, the unsent reading(s) will be sent. Thetransmission of unsent readings can be manual, automatic, orcombinations thereof. The device is capable of storing records for asingle user or for multiple user as would be common in a hospital orlong term care facility setting.

If one to three readings were not sent, then the unsent reading(s) aresent together with the last reading already sent successfully before andstored in central database, for a total of maximum four readings in onemessage. After the message is sent and confirmed successfully, thepointer will be updated and point to the new last reading. The new lastreading will become the last reading in next message. If more than threereadings were not sent, the device will automatically repeat the processabove and send several messages, until all readings are sent. The devicewill ensure that each message always has one redundant reading forsynchronization.

The central database, upon successful completion of processing theincoming record, will reply with the message “success”. The device, uponreceiving this message, will display “OK” on the user screen, and willupdate the pointers as described above. The above message solution andredundancy process may use USSD messages as form of communication aswell as GPRS, Short Text Message (SMS) method and Voice channels.

The record layout and the communication processes involved with sendingglucose readings from a glucometer medical device according to thepresent invention, in one embodiment, is described herein below. Forexample, each record to be sent via a USSD message may contain up to 80characters. The first 8 characters appear only on the first reading,while the rest of the readings in the record have only specific readingdata. A color-coded record structure is as follows. Each color displaysthe unique characteristics of the field and the table below givesadditional information on each field. In this example you can see arecord with 2 readings, separated by comma (This example is illustrativeonly and does not limit the scope of actual devices and methods of thepresent invention).

Example 1

U012345611012818341529900, 11012818401589900# start end example rangeDescription 1 1 U 0~9, A~Z Protocol Identification (U = USSD) 2 2 0 0~9,A~Z Customer Database Identification (if not used, set this character tozero) 3 8 123456 000000~999999 Device Identification (In future, thiscan be removed, and then use subscriber ID instead) 9 10 11 10~99 Year(2010~2099) 11 12 01 01~42 Month 13 14 28 01~31 Day 15 16 18 00~23 Hour(24 hours format) 17 18 34 00~59 Minutes 19 21 152 000~999 Sugar level22 23 99 00~99 Battery strength in percentage (100% = 99%) 24 24 0 0~9,A~Z Event: Before Meal (0), After Meal (1), Control Solution Test (2),After Exercise (3), After Taking Medicine (4) . . . 25 25 0 Future Use26 26 , or # , or # Comma (,) to separate between records, pound sign(#) on the last recordLength of each record:

Header Read 1 Read 2 Read 3 Read 4 1 1 6 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 18 18 18 18The communication between the device, server, and the web site centraldata base is done using XML commands. The device sends a message. TheHLR changes it to XML command and transfers it to the server. The serversends the XML to the IP address of the web site. The web site processesthe request, and generates a reply XML back to server. The server sendsthe XML to the HLR. The HLR changes the XML to USSD message and sends itto the device. The device displays the message on the screen as “OK” ifit gets “success” or “ERR” if the return message is different.

EXAMPLES

Message sent to web site:

<mo-ussd-submit-request version=“1.0” id=“791”><msisdn>19038904313</msisdn> <userdata>U0000800110824070213470000000,110829160077777000000#</user-data> <imsi>310630803000351</imsi></mo-ussd-submit-request>On successful processing, the web site will return to the server:

-   <user-data>successx</user-data>    On failure processing, the web site will return to the server:-   <user-data>Invalid argument supplied</user-data>    Server return to device:-   <user-data>successx</user-data> or <user-data>Invalid argument    supplied</user-data>

In other embodiments of the present invention, the Glucometer isconfigured with 2 way communication to send and receive USSD messages upto 140 characters long. USSD transmission is preferred for significanttransmission advantages. In another embodiment, the inventioncontemplates using only 80 characters to comply with any network in theworld. USSD is additionally preferred as messages are highly secured.However, the above example also works with GPRS and SMS method ofmessage transmission.

Currently, as configured the device is functional with worldwide servicein 200 countries and 600 2G networks. The device will also be configuredfor 4G and 3G wireless networks. The device is configured with automaticsynchronization of local date/time. The device is configured with anautomatic switch to adjust the device to “airplane mode” or sleep modeafter sending messages or results in order to conserve the device'sbattery life. The device has manual ability to set different dateformats and time formats. The time on the device may be set manually.Time may be synchronized on the device as well. The device mayautomatically change time zones based on where the user is located. Thedevice's test strip turns the devices GSM capabilities on and off. Thedevice is comprised of a full color 2.4″ screen and is configured withan automatic screen shutdown to conserve energy. In another embodimentthe device may be comprise a larger or smaller screen.

In one embodiment of the device, there are three test modes: beforemeal, after meal and control solution test. Blood glucose readings maybe displayed either in mg/dl or milimol per litre (mmol/l). The unit hasa single user mode and a multi user mode whereby the multi user supportsup to 35 unique users or patients. The device may support multiplepatient records in the same unit wherein all records may be stored onthe device's SIM card or in the cloud storage system of the user orhealth care provider or where directed. The unit stores the last 1,000reading records per patient/user up to a total of up to 35,000 records.The unit currently supports 6 built-in languages and is configurable tomanufacture specification supporting up to 80 different languages withan automatic switch to local language of selected languages. The devicecurrently supports the following languages: English, Arabic, Hebrew,Spanish, French, Hungarian, Chinese, Italian and Turkish. The device hasa display for 7 digits for the device ID's, IMEI, IMSI and SIM tool kit.In another embodiment, the device may store a plurality of devices perpatient/user. The device is configurable to select networks manually andfor automatic network selection to be always on. The device may sendmock alerts and tests in order to confirm proper transmission and isconfigurable to warn if errors in transmission occur. The deviceconducts a quick blood test in between about 0.5 to about 5 seconds. Thedevice conducts a quick communication to indicate a successful recordingof a user's blood glucose, up to 20 seconds to get a reply “SuccessfullyRecorded.”

For marketing purposes, the device is selectively configurable todisplay any one or combination of a customer specific logo, variousadvertising messages on screen, and the like. The device may contain anadvertising module where product placement and advertisements may befeatured while a glucose reading is being recorded or transmitted. Thedevice is able to accommodate instant, directed and consumer personaladvertisements. The system and device is marketed as the iGlucose®system and consists of the iGlucose® device (a glucometer) and an onlinediabetes management portal. iGlucose® uses machine-to-machine (M2M)cellular technology to facilitate wireless communication from areas withlimited connectivity, and ensures you and your diabetes care team stayconnected at all times. Blood glucose readings from your iGlucose deviceare transmitted to a secure online database where you can access thedata and share it in various graphic and tabular formats withpre-determined family members, caregivers, or healthcare professionalsvia email, text message, fax or by access to the web portal.

In one preferred embodiment, there is no action needed to transmit thedata, i.e. no buttons to push, and a patient does not even have toremove the strip. The unit goes from blood test to data transmitautomatically. In another embodiment of the present invention, thesystem and device may interoperable with a variety of diabetic machinesand devices such as insulin pumps, insulin pens, blood glucose software;diagnostic and medical devices for reading physical and bodilycharacteristics such as temperature via thermometers, blood pressure;and weight via scales.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-14, there is an apparatus 100 shown in a numberof views. The apparatus 100 is shown from a perspective view, frontview, back view, left side view, right side view, top view, and a bottomview, respectively.

The apparatus 100 generally has an external housing 101, at least onetouch sensitive button 102, a display 105, a charging indicator or light122, a receptacle 124, a charging port 126, a sound emitting device 128,and a slidable member 130.

The display 105 is a visual display that may interface with the soundemitting device 128, such as a speaker(s), to create an audiovisualexperience for the user. Preferably, the display 105 is a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), however, other displays including those containing lightemitting diodes and organic light emitting diodes which may be enhancedwith quantum dot technology. In some embodiments, it is preferable thatthe display 105 be touch sensitive. In yet other embodiments, the touchsensitive buttons 102 are used to navigate the menu trees and generallyoperate the device as a whole. In other embodiments, a combination oftouch sensitive screens and buttons may be implemented.

The display 105 further has outputs, as shown in FIG. 9, correspondingto various functionality such as a signal strength indicator 108,battery meter 110, standby mode indicator 112, a sending signalindicator 114, a mode indicator 116, a test output value 118, and thedate and time 120 of the location of the apparatus. As described above,the touch sensitive buttons 102 can be used to interact with or changeany part of the display 105.

The signal strength indicator 108 gives a user a visual representationof the afforded strength of a cellular communications signal such as aglobal system for mobile communications (GSM). The signal strengthindicator 108 may be represented by a varying number of bars or linesbased on the strength of the signal received by the apparatus 100. Thisconnection enables the automatic transmission of the medical testresults upon completion of at least one medical test. If there is nonetwork coverage in the area, the apparatus 100 is constructed andconfigured to store the information within the apparatus 100 via thememory 140 contained therein. The information can then be automaticallytransmitted the next time a reading is taken or coverage becomesavailable. In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 stores up to 100 unsentreadings to be sent at a later time. When the information is sent, theapparatus 100 also sends a time stamp (including the date) for recordkeeping purposes.

In some embodiments, each apparatus 100 has a GSM module incorporatedtherein. A SIM card, either physical SIM or virtual SIM, is attached toa GSM module and communicates with the local network. Once readings aresent from the device to the GSM module, the reading, or readings aretransmitted to the network using the SIM card.

The battery meter 110 provides a visual cue as to the remaining batterylevel. Once a certain threshold has been passed an alert may begenerated and battery meter 110 may change color. The battery may berecharged using a recharging apparatus which can be coupled to thecharging port 126 located on the bottom of the apparatus 100. When thebattery is recharging, a charging light 122 may appear. Once thecharging has completed, this charging light 122 may change color or nolonger appear.

A sending signal indicator 114 signifies that a signal has been sentfrom an apparatus 100 to a remote location upon the completion of amedical test. The mode indicator 116 indicates the operational mode ofthe apparatus 100 which may correspond to the type of test to beperformed or the timing of the test to be performed. The test outputvalue 118 is a visual indication of a result of at least one medicaltest performed with the apparatus 100. The date and time 120 simply showthe user the date and time of their location to ensure they remain onschedule for testing purposes as well as time stamping test results.

The external housing 101 is preferably comprised of at least an upperhalf and a lower half with the upper half being coupled to the lowerhalf defining a space therebetween. The upper half may be separable fromthe lower half via tabs 144 as shown in FIGS. 11-12. This space definedby the external housing 101 houses at least the power source or battery104, processor 106, and memory 140. The processor 106 containsinstructions thereon for executing at least one program directed towardsmedical testing and its applications. Further, once the medical test hasbeen completed, the results are stored in the memory 140 andautomatically sent to a remote location, such as a server or doctor'soffice or the like, via a wireless transceiver 142. The medical testresults may be sent via SMS, email, fax, and the like or somecombination thereof.

The external housing 101 provides for a receptacle 124 and a chargingport 126. The charging port 126, as described above, enables a chargingapparatus to be employed to recharge the power source or battery 104 ofthe apparatus 100.

The receptacle 124 enables a medical testing apparatus 132 to beinserted therein. The medical testing apparatus 132 takes many forms andin some instances may be a strip for testing blood glucose levels. Sucha strip is generally known in the art and contains a first end having anelectrical connector capable of establishing an operable electronicconnection with the apparatus 100. The opposing end of the strip mayhave an area to receive a bodily fluid such as blood. The bodily fluidcauses a reaction in the strip which is measured by the apparatus 100.In other embodiments, other types of testing may be employed. Further,the medical testing apparatus 132 may also take other forms. Once themedical test has been completed, the slidable member 130 is used toeject the medical testing apparatus 132.

At least one embodiment of the present invention and its technicalspecifications and associated hardware are described in the table below.

TABLE 1 Main Sub Details Hardware GSM GSM Platform MT6260 Mode GSM +GPRS + USSD Frequency GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Antenna Interior on thebottom Glucose Type Module mounted IC NEC 78F0593 Test Sample Freshcapillary whole blood Test Result Plasma/Serum glucose Sample Size Lessthan 0.5 μL Measuring Time Less than 5 seconds Measuring Range 20-600mg/dL (1.1-33.3 mmol/L) Hematocrit Range 30%-55% Operating Temp. 10°C.-40° C. (50° F.-104° F.) Range Operating Relative 10%-90% RH HumidityStorage/transport 0° C.-50° C. (32° F.-122° F.) Temp. RangeStorage/transport 10%-90% RH Relative Humidity Atmospheric 700-1060 hPapressure General LCM Size 2.4″ QVGA Nature Hi contrast TFT Colors 260KResolution 320 * 240 pixels Button pad Left button Menu, informationmenu (3 Buttons) Middle button ON/OFF; Enter, test mode change Rightbutton Averages, readings history Dimension 100 * 50 * 15 mm PortMicro-USB Charging, software download Speaker 15 mm mini-speaker asbuzzer or vocal reminding Battery Capacity 3.7 V, 1,000 mAh Li-Ion Lasttime 25-30 days for normal use (2-3 tests per day) Accessory WallCharger Adapter Shenzhen Samson Power Technology Model: S050-050-US ACinput: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 0.2 A; DC output: 5 V, 0.5 A USB cableMicro 5P, 100 cm Software functions Data entry Storage 1,000 entries peruser, up to 35 users Main standby page GSM signal strength batterylevel, carrier name, date/time etc. Message Yes Server can send toSGM-03, for any tips, feedbacks etc. Alarm Yes 5 items GPRS/USSD YesGPRS Class1.2 Languages English, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Arabic,Hebrew and Chinese by default.

In order to use an embodiment of the apparatus described herein orothers thereof, a user preferably completes a series of steps, of whichnot all will be required nor are the steps necessarily required to becompleted in the manner/order as described.

A user first needs to create a user account to be associated with theparticular apparatus. Such an account may be created with a web/mobileapplication or website or other electronic programming option. Once anaccount has been created and, in some instance user verified, a user canthen modify their account and user profile as necessary includingadding, editing, and deleting information. In order to properlyassociate with the apparatus in question, if a user receives a newapparatus, then they must update their profile with the specificapparatus information such as serial number and other unique apparatusidentifiers. From their account and profile, a user can also set alertsto be directed in the event of an abnormal or other reading that maycomprise the user's health, add or change apparatus associated the withaccount, and perform various other functions associated with theapparatus.

In order to complete a medical test, such as a glucose blood test, auser may follow the following steps. First, a user should wash theirhands in warm water using soap and rinse and dry completely.

Second, the user should select the appropriate test mode: “Before Meal”or “After Meal.” This can be done either by using the touch sensitivebuttons. An icon will be displayed on the display to indicate theselection made: “Before Meal” shows, for example, a whole apple icon,“After Meal” shows, for example, a partially eaten apple icon. If thetest is performed within about two hours after a meal, use the “AfterMeal” setting, otherwise, the user would typically use the “Before Meal”setting.

Third, a user should remove a new test strip from a vial, and replacethe vial cap tightly after removing the test strip.

Fourth, the user should use a safety lancet or lancing device to prickat least one finger and draw a drop of blood.

Fifth, the test strip should be inserted, usually with the arrow sidefacing up, into the strip slot of the device. A message such as “StripInserted” and then “Apply a Drop of Blood” may appear on the display.The user should check that the code number on the meter matches the codeon the vial. If the two numbers match, the user may begin blood testing.Otherwise the user should insert a new strip.

Sixth, hold the device and apply a drop of blood to the top front of thetest strip, where several stripes are visible. The test result will showin about five seconds and a “Glucose Value” number, or test results,appears on the display. After a few more seconds, the sending signalicon blinks on the display as the test result is transmitted to theonline database, remote location, doctor, etc. A message such as“Successfully Recorded” may subsequently appear on the display. Thistransmission occurs automatically and requires no undue input or stepsfrom the user.

Systems, Devices and Operating Systems

Typically, a user or users, which may be people or groups of usersand/or other systems, may engage information technology systems (e.g.,computers) to facilitate operation of the system and informationprocessing. In turn, computers employ processors to process informationand such processors may be referred to as central processing units(CPU). One form of processor is referred to as a microprocessor. CPUsuse communicative circuits to pass binary encoded signals acting asinstructions to enable various operations. These instructions may beoperational and/or data instructions containing and/or referencing otherinstructions and data in various processor accessible and operable areasof memory (e.g., registers, cache memory, random access memory, etc.).Such communicative instructions may be stored and/or transmitted inbatches (e.g., batches of instructions) as programs and/or datacomponents to facilitate desired operations. These stored instructioncodes, e.g., programs, may engage the CPU circuit components and othermotherboard and/or system components to perform desired operations. Onetype of program is a computer operating system, which, may be executedby CPU on a computer; the operating system enables and facilitates usersto access and operate computer information technology and resources.Some resources that may be employed in information technology systemsinclude: input and output mechanisms through which data may pass intoand out of a computer; memory storage into which data may be saved; andprocessors by which information may be processed. These informationtechnology systems may be used to collect data for later retrieval,analysis, and manipulation, which may be facilitated through a databaseprogram. These information technology systems provide interfaces thatallow users to access and operate various system components.

In one embodiment, the present invention may be connected to and/orcommunicate with entities such as, but not limited to: one or more usersfrom user input devices; peripheral devices; an optional cryptographicprocessor device; and/or a communications network. For example, thepresent invention may be connected to and/or communicate with users,operating client device(s), including, but not limited to, personalcomputer(s), server(s) and/or various mobile device(s) including, butnot limited to, cellular telephone(s), smartphone(s) (e.g., iPhone®,Blackberry®, Android OS-based phones etc.), tablet computer(s) (e.g.,Apple iPad™ HP Slate™, Motorola Xoom™, etc.), eBook reader(s) (e.g.,Amazon Kindle™, Barnes and Noble's Nook™ eReader, etc.), laptopcomputer(s), notebook(s), netbook(s), gaming console(s) (e.g., XBOXLive™, Nintendo® DS, Sony PlayStation® Portable, etc.), portablescanner(s) and/or the like.

Networks are commonly thought to comprise the interconnection andinteroperation of clients, servers, and intermediary nodes in a graphtopology. It should be noted that the term “server” as used throughoutthis application refers generally to a computer, other device, program,or combination thereof that processes and responds to the requests ofremote users across a communications network. Servers serve theirinformation to requesting “clients.” The term “client” as used hereinrefers generally to a computer, program, other device, user and/orcombination thereof that is capable of processing and making requestsand obtaining and processing any responses from servers across acommunications network. A computer, other device, program, orcombination thereof that facilitates, processes information andrequests, and/or furthers the passage of information from a source userto a destination user is commonly referred to as a “node.” Networks aregenerally thought to facilitate the transfer of information from sourcepoints to destinations. A node specifically tasked with furthering thepassage of information from a source to a destination is commonly calleda “router.” There are many forms of networks such as Local Area Networks(LANs), Pico networks, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Networks(WLANs), etc. For example, the Internet is generally accepted as beingan interconnection of a multitude of networks whereby remote clients andservers may access and interoperate with one another.

The present invention may be based on computer systems that maycomprise, but are not limited to, components such as: a computersystemization connected to memory.

Computer Systemization

A computer systemization may comprise a clock, central processing unit(“CPU(s)” and/or “processor(s)” (these terms are used interchangeablethroughout the disclosure unless noted to the contrary)), a memory(e.g., a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc.),and/or an interface bus, and most frequently, although not necessarily,are all interconnected and/or communicating through a system bus on oneor more (mother)board(s) having conductive and/or otherwise transportivecircuit pathways through which instructions (e.g., binary encodedsignals) may travel to effect communications, operations, storage, etc.Optionally, the computer systemization may be connected to an internalpower source; e.g., optionally the power source may be internal.Optionally, a cryptographic processor and/or transceivers (e.g., ICs)may be connected to the system bus. In another embodiment, thecryptographic processor and/or transceivers may be connected as eitherinternal and/or external peripheral devices via the interface bus I/O.In turn, the transceivers may be connected to antenna(s), therebyeffectuating wireless transmission and reception of variouscommunication and/or sensor protocols; for example the antenna(s) mayconnect to: a Texas Instruments WiLink WL1283 transceiver chip (e.g.,providing 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0, FM, global positioning system (GPS)(thereby allowing the controller of the present invention to determineits location)); Broadcom BCM4329FKUBG transceiver chip (e.g., providing802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM, etc.); a Broadcom BCM4750IUB8 receiverchip (e.g., GPS); an Infineon Technologies X-Gold 618-PMB9800 (e.g.,providing 2G/3G HSDPA/HSUPA communications); and/or the like. The systemclock typically has a crystal oscillator and generates a base signalthrough the computer systemization's circuit pathways. The clock istypically coupled to the system bus and various clock multipliers thatwill increase or decrease the base operating frequency for othercomponents interconnected in the computer systemization. The clock andvarious components in a computer systemization drive signals embodyinginformation throughout the system. Such transmission and reception ofinstructions embodying information throughout a computer systemizationmay be commonly referred to as communications. These communicativeinstructions may further be transmitted, received, and the cause ofreturn and/or reply communications beyond the instant computersystemization to: communications networks, input devices, other computersystemizations, peripheral devices, and/or the like. Of course, any ofthe above components may be connected directly to one another, connectedto the CPU, and/or organized in numerous variations employed asexemplified by various computer systems.

The CPU comprises at least one high-speed data processor adequate toexecute program components for executing user and/or system-generatedrequests. Often, the processors themselves will incorporate variousspecialized processing units, such as, but not limited to: integratedsystem (bus) controllers, memory management control units, floatingpoint units, and even specialized processing sub-units like graphicsprocessing units, digital signal processing units, and/or the like.Additionally, processors may include internal fast access addressablememory, and be capable of mapping and addressing memory beyond theprocessor itself; internal memory may include, but is not limited to:fast registers, various levels of cache memory (e.g., level 1, 2, 3,etc.), RAM, etc. The processor may access this memory through the use ofa memory address space that is accessible via instruction address, whichthe processor can construct and decode allowing it to access a circuitpath to a specific memory address space having a memory state. The CPUmay be a microprocessor such as: AMD's Athlon, Duron and/or Opteron;ARM's application, embedded and secure processors; IBM and/or Motorola'sDragonBall and PowerPC; IBM's and Sony's Cell processor; Intel'sCeleron, Core (2) Duo, Itanium, Pentium, Xeon, and/or XScale; and/or thelike processor(s). The CPU interacts with memory through instructionpassing through conductive and/or transportive conduits (e.g., (printed)electronic and/or optic circuits) to execute stored instructions (i.e.,program code) according to conventional data processing techniques. Suchinstruction passing facilitates communication within the presentinvention and beyond through various interfaces. Should processingrequirements dictate a greater amount speed and/or capacity, distributedprocessors (e.g., Distributed embodiments of the present invention),mainframe, multi-core, parallel, and/or super-computer architectures maysimilarly be employed. Alternatively, should deployment requirementsdictate greater portability, smaller Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)may be employed.

Depending on the particular implementation, features of the presentinvention may be achieved by implementing a microcontroller such asCAST's R8051XC2 microcontroller; Intel's MCS 51 (i.e., 8051microcontroller); and/or the like. Also, to implement certain featuresof the various embodiments, some feature implementations may rely onembedded components, such as: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(“ASIC”), Digital Signal Processing (“DSP”), Field Programmable GateArray (“FPGA”), and/or the like embedded technology. For example, any ofthe component collection (distributed or otherwise) and/or features ofthe present invention may be implemented via the microprocessor and/orvia embedded components; e.g., via ASIC, coprocessor, DSP, FPGA, and/orthe like. Alternately, some implementations of the present invention maybe implemented with embedded components that are configured and used toachieve a variety of features or signal processing.

Depending on the particular implementation, the embedded components mayinclude software solutions, hardware solutions, and/or some combinationof both hardware/software solutions. For example, features of thepresent invention discussed herein may be achieved through implementingFPGAs, which are a semiconductor devices containing programmable logiccomponents called “logic blocks”, and programmable interconnects, suchas the high performance FPGA Virtex series and/or the low cost Spartanseries manufactured by Xilinx. Logic blocks and interconnects can beprogrammed by the customer or designer, after the FPGA is manufactured,to implement any of the features of the present invention. A hierarchyof programmable interconnects allow logic blocks to be interconnected asneeded by the system designer/administrator of the present invention,somewhat like a one-chip programmable breadboard. An FPGA's logic blockscan be programmed to perform the function of basic logic gates such asAND, and XOR, or more complex combinational functions such as decodersor simple mathematical functions. In most FPGAs, the logic blocks alsoinclude memory elements, which may be simple flip-flops or more completeblocks of memory. In some circumstances, the present invention may bedeveloped on regular FPGAs and then migrated into a fixed version thatmore resembles ASIC implementations. Alternate or coordinatingimplementations may migrate features of the controller of the presentinvention to a final ASIC instead of or in addition to FPGAs. Dependingon the implementation all of the aforementioned embedded components andmicroprocessors may be considered the “CPU” and/or “processor” for thepresent invention.

Power Source

The power source may be of any standard form for powering smallelectronic circuit board devices such as the following power cells:alkaline, lithium hydride, lithium ion, lithium polymer, nickel cadmium,solar cells, and/or the like. Other types of AC or DC power sources maybe used as well. In the case of solar cells, in one embodiment, the caseprovides an aperture through which the solar cell may capture photonicenergy. The power cell is connected to at least one of theinterconnected subsequent components of the present invention therebyproviding an electric current to all subsequent components. In oneexample, the power source is connected to the system bus component. Inan alternative embodiment, an outside power source is provided through aconnection across the I/O interface. For example, a USB and/or IEEE 1394connection carries both data and power across the connection and istherefore a suitable source of power.

Interface Adapters

Interface bus(ses) may accept, connect, and/or communicate to a numberof interface adapters, conventionally although not necessarily in theform of adapter cards, such as but not limited to: input outputinterfaces (I/O), storage interfaces, network interfaces, and/or thelike. Optionally, cryptographic processor interfaces similarly may beconnected to the interface bus. The interface bus provides for thecommunications of interface adapters with one another as well as withother components of the computer systemization. Interface adapters areadapted for a compatible interface bus. Interface adaptersconventionally connect to the interface bus via a slot architecture.Conventional slot architectures may be employed, such as, but notlimited to: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Card Bus, (Extended)Industry Standard Architecture ((E)ISA), Micro Channel Architecture(MCA), NuBus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (Extended) (PCI(X)), PCIExpress, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association(PCMCIA), and/or the like.

Storage interfaces may accept, communicate, and/or connect to a numberof storage devices such as, but not limited to: storage devices,removable disc devices, and/or the like. Storage interfaces may employconnection protocols such as, but not limited to: (Ultra) (Serial)Advanced Technology Attachment (Packet Interface) ((Ultra) (Serial) ATA(PI)), (Enhanced) Integrated Drive Electronics ((E)IDE), Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, fiber channel, SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/orthe like.

Network interfaces may accept, communicate, and/or connect to acommunications network. Through a communications network, the controllerof the present invention is accessible through remote clients (e.g.,computers with web browsers) by users. Network interfaces may employconnection protocols such as, but not limited to: direct connect,Ethernet (thick, thin, twisted pair 10/100/1000 Base T, and/or thelike), Token Ring, wireless connection such as IEEE 802.11a-x, and/orthe like. Should processing requirements dictate a greater amount speedand/or capacity, distributed network controllers (e.g., Distributedembodiments of the present invention), architectures may similarly beemployed to pool, load balance, and/or otherwise increase thecommunicative bandwidth required by the controller of the presentinvention. A communications network may be any one and/or thecombination of the following: a direct interconnection; the Internet; aLocal Area Network (LAN); a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN); anOperating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI); a secured customconnection; a Wide Area Network (WAN); a wireless network (e.g.,employing protocols such as, but not limited to a Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP), I-mode, and/or the like); and/or the like. A networkinterface may be regarded as a specialized form of an input outputinterface. Further, multiple network interfaces may be used to engagewith various communications network types. For example, multiple networkinterfaces may be employed to allow for the communication overbroadcast, multicast, and/or unicast networks.

Input Output interfaces (I/O) may accept, communicate, and/or connect touser input devices, peripheral devices, cryptographic processor devices,and/or the like. I/O may employ connection protocols such as, but notlimited to: audio: analog, digital, monaural, RCA, stereo, and/or thelike; data: Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), IEEE 1394a-b, serial, universalserial bus (USB); infrared; joystick; keyboard; midi; optical; PC AT;PS/2; parallel; radio; video interface: Apple Desktop Connector (ADC),BNC, coaxial, component, composite, digital, Digital Visual Interface(DVI), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), RCA, RF antennae,S-Video, VGA, and/or the like; wireless transceivers: 802.11a/b/g/n/x;Bluetooth; cellular (e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA), highspeed packet access (HSPA (+)), high-speed downlink packet access(HSDPA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), long termevolution (LTE), WiMax, etc.); and/or the like. One typical outputdevice may include a video display, which typically comprises a CathodeRay Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) based monitor with aninterface (e.g., DVI circuitry and cable) that accepts signals from avideo interface, may be used. The video interface composites informationgenerated by a computer systemization and generates video signals basedon the composited information in a video memory frame. Another outputdevice is a television set, which accepts signals from a videointerface. Typically, the video interface provides the composited videoinformation through a video connection interface that accepts a videodisplay interface (e.g., an RCA composite video connector accepting anRCA composite video cable; a DVI connector accepting a DVI displaycable, etc.).

User input devices often are a type of peripheral device (see below) andmay include: card readers, dongles, finger print readers, gloves,graphics tablets, joysticks, keyboards, microphones, mouse (mice),remote controls, retina readers, touch screens (e.g., capacitive,resistive, etc.), trackballs, trackpads, sensors (e.g., accelerometers,ambient light, GPS, gyroscopes, proximity, etc.), styluses, and/or thelike.

Peripheral devices, such as other components of the cooling chestsystem, including temperature sensors, ice dispensers (if provided) andthe like may be connected and/or communicate to I/O and/or otherfacilities of the like such as network interfaces, storage interfaces,directly to the interface bus, system bus, the CPU, and/or the like.Peripheral devices may be external, internal and/or part of thecontroller of the present invention. Peripheral devices may alsoinclude, for example, an antenna, audio devices (e.g., line-in,line-out, microphone input, speakers, etc.), cameras (e.g., still,video, webcam, etc.), drive motors, ice maker, lighting, video monitorsand/or the like.

Cryptographic units such as, but not limited to, microcontrollers,processors, interfaces, and/or devices may be attached, and/orcommunicate with the controller of the present invention. A MC68HC16microcontroller, manufactured by Motorola Inc., may be used for and/orwithin cryptographic units. The MC68HC16 microcontroller utilizes a16-bit multiply-and-accumulate instruction in the 16 MHz configurationand requires less than one second to perform a 512-bit RSA private keyoperation. Cryptographic units support the authentication ofcommunications from interacting agents, as well as allowing foranonymous transactions. Cryptographic units may also be configured aspart of CPU. Equivalent microcontrollers and/or processors may also beused. Other commercially available specialized cryptographic processorsinclude: the Broadcom's CryptoNetX and other Security Processors;nCipher's nShield, SafeNet's Luna PCI (e.g., 7100) series; SemaphoreCommunications' 40 MHz Roadrunner 184; Sun's Cryptographic Accelerators(e.g., Accelerator 6000 PCIe Board, Accelerator 500 Daughtercard); ViaNano Processor (e.g., L2100, L2200, U2400) line, which is capable ofperforming 500+ MB/s of cryptographic instructions; VLSI Technology's 33MHz 6868; and/or the like.

Memory

Generally, any mechanization and/or embodiment allowing a processor toaffect the storage and/or retrieval of information is regarded asmemory. However, memory is a fungible technology and resource, thus, anynumber of memory embodiments may be employed in lieu of or in concertwith one another. It is to be understood that the controller of thepresent invention and/or a computer systemization may employ variousforms of memory. For example, a computer systemization may be configuredwherein the functionality of on-chip CPU memory (e.g., registers), RAM,ROM, and any other storage devices are provided by a paper punch tape orpaper punch card mechanism; of course such an embodiment would result inan extremely slow rate of operation. In a typical configuration, memorywill include ROM, RAM, and a storage device. A storage device may be anyconventional computer system storage. Storage devices may include adrum; a (fixed and/or removable) magnetic disk drive; a magneto-opticaldrive; an optical drive (i.e., Blueray, CD ROM/RAM/Recordable(R)/ReWritable (RW), DVD R/RW, HD DVD R/RW etc.); an array of devices(e.g., Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)); solid state memorydevices (USB memory, solid state drives (SSD), etc.); otherprocessor-readable storage mediums; and/or other devices of the like.Thus, a computer systemization generally requires and makes use ofmemory.

Component Collection

The memory may contain a collection of program and/or databasecomponents and/or data such as, but not limited to: operating systemcomponent(s) (operating system); information server component(s)(information server); user interface component(s) (user interface); Webbrowser component(s) (Web browser); database(s); mail servercomponent(s); mail client component(s); cryptographic servercomponent(s) (cryptographic server) and/or the like (i.e., collectivelya component collection). These components may be stored and accessedfrom the storage devices and/or from storage devices accessible throughan interface bus. Although non-conventional program components such asthose in the component collection, typically, are stored in a localstorage device, they may also be loaded and/or stored in memory such as:peripheral devices, RAM, remote storage facilities through acommunications network, ROM, various forms of memory, and/or the like.

Operating System

The operating system component is an executable program componentfacilitating the operation of the controller of the present invention.Typically, the operating system facilitates access of I/O, networkinterfaces, peripheral devices, storage devices, and/or the like. Theoperating system may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and securesystem such as: Apple Macintosh OS X (Server); AT&T Plan 9; Be OS; Unixand Unix-like system distributions (such as AT&T's UNIX; BerkleySoftware Distribution (BSD) variations such as FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD,and/or the like; Linux distributions such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, and/or thelike); and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/orless secure operating systems also may be employed such as AppleMacintosh OS, IBM OS/2, Microsoft DOS, Microsoft Windows2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millennium/NT/Vista/XP (Server), Palm OS, and/orthe like. The operating system may be one specifically optimized to berun on a mobile computing device, such as iOS, Android, Windows Phone,Tizen, Symbian, and/or the like. An operating system may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or the like. Most frequently, the operating systemcommunicates with other program components, user interfaces, and/or thelike. For example, the operating system may contain, communicate,generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/ordata communications, requests, and/or responses. The operating system,once executed by the CPU, may enable the interaction with communicationsnetworks, data, I/O, peripheral devices, program components, memory,user input devices, and/or the like. The operating system may providecommunications protocols that allow the controller of the presentinvention to communicate with other entities through a communicationsnetwork. Various communication protocols may be used by the controllerof the present invention as a subcarrier transport mechanism forinteraction, such as, but not limited to: multicast, TCP/IP, UDP,unicast, and/or the like.

Information Server

An information server component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU. The information server may be a conventional Internetinformation server such as, but not limited to Apache SoftwareFoundation's Apache, Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and/or thelike. The information server may allow for the execution of programcomponents through facilities such as Active Server Page (ASP), ActiveX,(ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), C # and/or .NET, Common Gateway Interface(CGI) scripts, dynamic (D) hypertext markup language (HTML), FLASH,Java, JavaScript, Practical Extraction Report Language (PERL), HypertextPre-Processor (PHP), pipes, Python, wireless application protocol (WAP),WebObjects, and/or the like. The information server may support securecommunications protocols such as, but not limited to, File TransferProtocol (FTP); HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP); Secure HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTPS), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), messagingprotocols (e.g., America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger (AIM),Application Exchange (APEX), ICQ, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), MicrosoftNetwork (MSN) Messenger Service, Presence and Instant Messaging Protocol(PRIM), Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF's) Session InitiationProtocol (SIP), SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence LeveragingExtensions (SIMPLE), open XML-based Extensible Messaging and PresenceProtocol (XMPP) (i.e., Jabber or Open Mobile Alliance's (OMA's) InstantMessaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), Yahoo! Instant MessengerService, and/or the like. The information server provides results in theform of Web pages to Web browsers, and allows for the manipulatedgeneration of the Web pages through interaction with other programcomponents. After a Domain Name System (DNS) resolution portion of anHTTP request is resolved to a particular information server, theinformation server resolves requests for information at specifiedlocations on the controller of the present invention based on theremainder of the HTTP request. For example, a request such ashttp://123.124.125.126/myInformation.html might have the IP portion ofthe request “123.124.125.126” resolved by a DNS server to an informationserver at that IP address; that information server might in turn furtherparse the http request for the “/myInformation.html” portion of therequest and resolve it to a location in memory containing theinformation “myInformation.html.” Additionally, other informationserving protocols may be employed across various ports, e.g., FTPcommunications across port, and/or the like. An information server maycommunicate to and/or with other components in a component collection,including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, theinformation server communicates with the database of the presentinvention, operating systems, other program components, user interfaces,Web browsers, and/or the like.

Access to the database of the present invention may be achieved througha number of database bridge mechanisms such as through scriptinglanguages as enumerated below (e.g., CGI) and through inter-applicationcommunication channels as enumerated below (e.g., CORBA, WebObjects,etc.). Any data requests through a Web browser are parsed through thebridge mechanism into appropriate grammars as required by the presentinvention. In one embodiment, the information server would provide a Webform accessible by a Web browser. Entries made into supplied fields inthe Web form are tagged as having been entered into the particularfields, and parsed as such. The entered terms are then passed along withthe field tags, which act to instruct the parser to generate queriesdirected to appropriate tables and/or fields. In one embodiment, theparser may generate queries in standard SQL by instantiating a searchstring with the proper join/select commands based on the tagged textentries, wherein the resulting command is provided over the bridgemechanism to the present invention as a query. Upon generating queryresults from the query, the results are passed over the bridgemechanism, and may be parsed for formatting and generation of a newresults Web page by the bridge mechanism. Such a new results Web page isthen provided to the information server, which may supply it to therequesting Web browser.

Also, an information server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain,and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or datacommunications, requests, and/or responses.

User Interface

Computer interfaces in some respects are similar to automobile operationinterfaces. Automobile operation interface elements such as steeringwheels, gearshifts, and speedometers facilitate the access, operation,and display of automobile resources, and status. Computer interactioninterface elements such as check boxes, cursors, menus, scrollers, andwindows (collectively and commonly referred to as widgets) similarlyfacilitate the access, capabilities, operation, and display of data andcomputer hardware and operating system resources, and status. Operationinterfaces are commonly called user interfaces. Graphical userinterfaces (GUIs) such as the Apple Macintosh Operating System's Aqua,IBM's OS/2, Microsoft's Windows2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millennium/NT/XP/Vista/7 (i.e., Aero), Unix'sX-Windows (e.g., which may include additional Unix graphic interfacelibraries and layers such as K Desktop Environment (KDE), mythTV and GNUNetwork Object Model Environment (GNOME)), web interface libraries(e.g., ActiveX, AJAX, (D) HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, etc. interfacelibraries such as, but not limited to, Dojo, jQuery (UI), MooTools,Prototype, script.aculo.us, SWFObject, Yahoo! User Interface, any ofwhich may be used and) provide a baseline and means of accessing anddisplaying information graphically to users.

A user interface component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU. The user interface may be a conventional graphic userinterface as provided by, with, and/or atop operating systems and/oroperating environments such as already discussed. The user interface mayallow for the display, execution, interaction, manipulation, and/oroperation of program components and/or system facilities through textualand/or graphical facilities. The user interface provides a facilitythrough which users may affect, interact, and/or operate a computersystem. A user interface may communicate to and/or with other componentsin a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of thelike. Most frequently, the user interface communicates with operatingsystems, other program components, and/or the like. The user interfacemay contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide programcomponent, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/orresponses.

Web Browser

A Web browser component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The Web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewingapplication such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.Secure Web browsing may be supplied with 128 bit (or greater) encryptionby way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Web browsers allowing for theexecution of program components through facilities such as ActiveX,AJAX, (D) HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, web browser plug-in APIs (e.g.,FireFox, Safari Plug-in, and/or the like APIs), and/or the like. Webbrowsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs,cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices. A Web browser maycommunicate to and/or with other components in a component collection,including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, theWeb browser communicates with information servers, operating systems,integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g.,it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide programcomponent, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/orresponses. Of course, in place of a Web browser and information server,a combined application may be developed to perform similar functions ofboth. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining andthe provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like fromthe enabled nodes of the present invention. The combined application maybe nugatory on systems employing standard Web browsers.

Mail Server

A mail server component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The mail server may be a conventional Internet mail serversuch as, but not limited to sendmail, Microsoft Exchange, and/or thelike. The mail server may allow for the execution of program componentsthrough facilities such as ASP, ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), C #and/or .NET, CGI scripts, Java, JavaScript, PERL, PHP, pipes, Python,WebObjects, and/or the like. The mail server may support communicationsprotocols such as, but not limited to: Internet message access protocol(IMAP), Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)/MicrosoftExchange, post office protocol (POP3), simple mail transfer protocol(SMTP), and/or the like. The mail server can route, forward, and processincoming and outgoing mail messages that have been sent, relayed and/orotherwise traversing through and/or to the present invention.

Access to the mail of the present invention may be achieved through anumber of APIs offered by the individual Web server components and/orthe operating system.

Also, a mail server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/orprovide program component, system, user, and/or data communications,requests, information, and/or responses.

Mail Client

A mail client component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The mail client may be a conventional mail viewing applicationsuch as Apple Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, MicrosoftOutlook Express, Mozilla, Thunderbird, and/or the like. Mail clients maysupport a number of transfer protocols, such as: IMAP, MicrosoftExchange, POP3, SMTP, and/or the like. A mail client may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the mail clientcommunicates with mail servers, operating systems, other mail clients,and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain,and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or datacommunications, requests, information, and/or responses. Generally, themail client provides a facility to compose and transmit electronic mailmessages.

Cryptographic Server

A cryptographic server component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU, cryptographic processor, cryptographic processorinterface, cryptographic processor device, and/or the like.Cryptographic processor interfaces will allow for expedition ofencryption and/or decryption requests by the cryptographic component;however, the cryptographic component, alternatively, may run on aconventional CPU. The cryptographic component allows for the encryptionand/or decryption of provided data. The cryptographic component allowsfor both symmetric and asymmetric (e.g., Pretty Good Protection (PGP))encryption and/or decryption. The cryptographic component may employcryptographic techniques such as, but not limited to: digitalcertificates (e.g., X.509 authentication framework), digital signatures,dual signatures, enveloping, password access protection, public keymanagement, and/or the like. The cryptographic component will facilitatenumerous (encryption and/or decryption) security protocols such as, butnot limited to: checksum, Data Encryption Standard (DES), EllipticalCurve Encryption (ECC), International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA),Message Digest 5 (MD5, which is a one way hash function), passwords,Rivest Cipher (RC5), Rijndael, RSA (which is an Internet encryption andauthentication system that uses an algorithm developed in 1977 by RonRivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA),Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS),and/or the like. Employing such encryption security protocols, thepresent invention may encrypt all incoming and/or outgoingcommunications and may serve as node within a virtual private network(VPN) with a wider communications network. The cryptographic componentfacilitates the process of “security authorization” whereby access to aresource is inhibited by a security protocol wherein the cryptographiccomponent effects authorized access to the secured resource. Inaddition, the cryptographic component may provide unique identifiers ofcontent, e.g., employing and MD5 hash to obtain a unique signature foran digital audio file. A cryptographic component may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or facilities of the like. The cryptographic componentsupports encryption schemes allowing for the secure transmission ofinformation across a communications network to enable the component ofthe present invention to engage in secure transactions if so desired.The cryptographic component facilitates the secure accessing ofresources on the present invention and facilitates the access of securedresources on remote systems; i.e., it may act as a client and/or serverof secured resources. Most frequently, the cryptographic componentcommunicates with information servers, operating systems, other programcomponents, and/or the like. The cryptographic component may contain,communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system,user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.

The Database of the Present Invention

The database component of the present invention may be embodied in adatabase and its stored data. The database is a stored programcomponent, which is executed by the CPU; the stored program componentportion configuring the CPU to process the stored data. The database maybe a conventional, fault tolerant, relational, scalable, secure databasesuch as Oracle or Sybase. Relational databases are an extension of aflat file. Relational databases consist of a series of related tables.The tables are interconnected via a key field. Use of the key fieldallows the combination of the tables by indexing against the key field;i.e., the key fields act as dimensional pivot points for combininginformation from various tables. Relationships generally identify linksmaintained between tables by matching primary keys. Primary keysrepresent fields that uniquely identify the rows of a table in arelational database. More precisely, they uniquely identify rows of atable on the “one” side of a one-to-many relationship.

Alternatively, the database of the present invention may be implementedusing various standard data-structures, such as an array, hash, (linked)list, struct, structured text file (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like.Such data-structures may be stored in memory and/or in (structured)files. In another alternative, an object-oriented database may be used,such as Frontier, ObjectStore, Poet, Zope, and/or the like. Objectdatabases can include a number of object collections that are groupedand/or linked together by common attributes; they may be related toother object collections by some common attributes. Object-orienteddatabases perform similarly to relational databases with the exceptionthat objects are not just pieces of data but may have other types offunctionality encapsulated within a given object. If the database of thepresent invention is implemented as a data-structure, the use of thedatabase of the present invention may be integrated into anothercomponent such as the component of the present invention. Also, thedatabase may be implemented as a mix of data structures, objects, andrelational structures. Databases may be consolidated and/or distributedin countless variations through standard data processing techniques.Portions of databases, e.g., tables, may be exported and/or imported andthus decentralized and/or integrated.

In one embodiment, the database component includes several tables. AUsers (e.g., operators and physicians) table may include fields such as,but not limited to: user_id, ssn, dob, first_name, last_name, age,state, address_firstline, address_secondline, zipcode, devices_list,contact_info, contact_type, alt_contact_info, alt_contact_type, and/orthe like to refer to any type of enterable data or selections discussedherein. The Users table may support and/or track multiple entityaccounts. A Clients table may include fields such as, but not limitedto: user_id, client_id, client_ip, client_type, client_model,operating_system, os_version, app_installed_flag, and/or the like. AnApps table may include fields such as, but not limited to: app_ID,app_name, app_type, OS_compatibilities_list, version, timestamp,developer_ID, and/or the like. A beverages table including, for example,heat capacities and other useful parameters of different beverages, suchas depending on size beverage_name, beverage_size, desired_coolingtemp,cooling_time, favorite_drinker, number_of_beverages,current_beverage_temperature, current_ambient_temperature, and/or thelike. An Parameter table may include fields including the foregoingfields, or additional ones such as cool_start_time, cool_preset,cooling_rate, and/or the like. A Cool Routines table may include aplurality of cooling sequences may include fields such as, but notlimited to: sequence_type, sequence_id, flow_rate, avg_water_temp,cooling_time, pump_setting, pump_speed, pump_pressure, power_level,temperature_sensor_id_number, temperature_sensor_location, and/or thelike.

In one embodiment, user programs may contain various user interfaceprimitives, which may serve to update the platform of the presentinvention. Also, various accounts may require custom database tablesdepending upon the environments and the types of clients the system ofthe present invention may need to serve. It should be noted that anyunique fields may be designated as a key field throughout. In analternative embodiment, these tables have been decentralized into theirown databases and their respective database controllers (i.e.,individual database controllers for each of the above tables). Employingstandard data processing techniques, one may further distribute thedatabases over several computer systemizations and/or storage devices.Similarly, configurations of the decentralized database controllers maybe varied by consolidating and/or distributing the various databasecomponents. The system of the present invention may be configured tokeep track of various settings, inputs, and parameters via databasecontrollers.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for transmitting and receiving data,comprising: a tangible memory device that stores computer-executableinstructions; a processor communicatively coupled to the tangible memorydevice that facilitates execution of the computer-executableinstructions; a transmission means operatively associated with a devicecontaining the tangible memory device and the processor, thetransmission means configured to use at least three communicationservices, wherein each of the at least three communication servicesdiffer, and wherein a first service of the at least three communicationservices transmits collected medical test data to a remote location andin an event a confirmation of receipt of readings sent using the firstservice is not received, a second service of the at least threecommunication services sends the collected medical test data to theremote location, and in the event the confirmation of receipt of thereadings sent using the second service is not received, a third serviceof the at least three communication services sends the collected medicaltest data to the remote location, and in the event the confirmation ofreceipt of the readings sent using the third service is not received,the medical test data is stored in the device for resending a subsequenttime a reading of the medical test data is obtained; a receiver adaptedand configured to receive the medical test data from said transmissionmeans; and a central database adapted and configured to store saidmedical test data, wherein said medical test data is used to form anoutput comprising a plurality of medical test data from at least onemedical test apparatus.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said device isa glucometer.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the glucometer haswireless communication that automatically initiates and transmits uponcompletion of a blood glucose test.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid medical test data is a blood glucose measurement.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said transmission means includes at least one of adirect connection, wireless transmission, or combinations thereof. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein said transmission means includes aconfiguration to encrypt said medical test data.
 7. The system of claim1, wherein said receiver is adapted and configured to receive encryptedtransmissions from said transmission means and to unencrypt said medicaltest data.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmission meansincludes a transmission protocol at least one of a USSD, GPSR and SMStransmission.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver is adaptedand configured to communicate with said device and said communicationincludes a signal in which receipt of transmitted data is confirmed. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein said output from said central databasecomprises test data that is transmitted to at least one of a patient, ahealthcare provider, an insurance/medical benefits provider, andcombinations thereof.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said centraldatabase is adapted and configured to provide an actuated transmissionwhen particular medical test thresholds are transmitted.
 12. The systemof claim 11, wherein said actuated transmission includes a warning to atleast one of a patient, a healthcare provider, an insurance/medicalbenefits provider, and combinations thereof relating to transmission ofsaid medical test data at a threshold level.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein said threshold level is a medical test result above or below athreshold limit.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein wirelesscommunication automatically initiates and transmits upon completion of amedical test.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical test datais wirelessly and automatically uploaded to the device.
 16. The systemof claim 1, wherein a plurality of medical test data is assigned aunique data profile corresponding to a plurality of users, said uniquedata profile configurable to include at least one of individuals,medical service providers and professionals and medical insuranceproviders.
 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical test data istransformed into a plurality messages.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the plurality of messages are transmitted as real time alertscorresponding to the medical test data of a plurality of users.
 19. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the plurality of messages comprise at leastone of short text message (SMS), Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing(GPSR), and voice channels.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein afrequency and a method of transmission of each of the plurality ofmessages is configurable and adjustable.
 21. The system of claim 17,wherein the plurality of messages comprise an electronic medical recordof a user.
 22. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical test data istransmitted and received from a plurality of electronic medical recordplatforms and systems.
 23. The system of claim 1 wherein the medicaltest data is transformed and stored on a subscriber identificationmodule, said subscriber identification module being physical or virtual.24. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality ofmessages is deemed redundant for verification and synchronization withsaid central database.
 25. The system of claim 1, wherein the medicaltest data is transformed into a plurality of languages.
 26. The systemof claim 1, further comprising an advertising module.
 27. The system ofclaim 1, wherein a database compilation output of the medical test datais received from at least one of a patient, a healthcare provider, aninsurance/medical benefits provider, and combination thereof.
 28. Acomputer implemented method for transmitting and receiving medical testdata, comprising: executing computer-executable instructions stored on atangible memory device using a processor communicatively coupled to thetangible memory device, to cause a computing environment to perform thecomputer implemented method comprising: receiving medical test data froma reading of a medical testing apparatus; sending the medical test datato a remote location to be stored in a central database using at leastthree communication services, wherein each of the at least threecommunication services differs, and wherein a first service of the atleast three communication services sends the medical test data to theremote location, and in the event a confirmation of receipt of readingssent using the first service is not received, a second service of the atleast three communication services sends the medical test data to theremote location, and in the event the confirmation of receipt of thereadings sent using the second service is not received, a third serviceof the at least three communication services sends the medical test datato the remote location, and in the event the confirmation of receipt ofthe readings sent using the third service is not received, the medicaltest data is stored in the tangible memory device for resending asubsequent time a reading of the medical test data is taken; storingsaid medical test data in the central database; and using said medicaltest data from the central database to form an output comprising anaggregate of medical test data from the medical testing apparatus.